STRIKE BACK

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does strike back mean? 

• STRIKE BACK (verb)
  The verb STRIKE BACK has 1 sense:

1. make a counterattack and return like for like, especially evil for evil

  Familiarity information: STRIKE BACK used as a verb is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• STRIKE BACK (verb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Make a counterattack and return like for like, especially evil for evil

Classified under:

Verbs of fighting, athletic activities

Synonyms:

retaliate; strike back

Context example:

The Israeli army retaliated for the Hamas bombing

Hypernyms (to "strike back" is one way to...):

hit; strike (make a strategic, offensive, assault against an enemy, opponent, or a target)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s PP

 Context examples 

When we are struck at without a reason, we should strike back again very hard; I am sure we should—so hard as to teach the person who struck us never to do it again.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)